Rumour: Chelsea to use Fernando Torres in swap deal for Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa

Diego Costa

Chelsea’s continued pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa took another twist as it has emerged that they may use Fernando Torres as bait to land the Spaniard/Brazilian, report The Metro.

Torres was a product of Atletico’s youth system, rising through the ranks to become a key player for the club before his big-money move to Liverpool in 2007. While Costa has been linked with Chelsea for quite some time.

His £50million move to Chelsea three years ago has not gone the way anybody had hoped, and it appears Chelsea may be willing to cut their losses on the Spanish striker in order to land somebody they feel more suited to their style of play.

Diego Costa would certainly be more suited to a lone striker role in the formation that Chelsea play, as he currently occupies that position with Atletico, with David Villa, Arda Turan, Diego and Koke currently swarming around him.

Chelsea have been long-term admirers of Costa and considered a bid in January, with Roman Abramovich willing to meet the £35m buy-out clause in Spain’s newest recruits’ contract.

Mourinho has bemoaned the lack of a clinical striker among his ranks and while Atletico are not keen on selling as they try to muscle in on the duopoly Real Madrid and Barcelona have on the league, a chance to reunite with their prodigal son could be a temptation that they cannot turn down.

Romelu Lukaku is another name that has been touted as a potential makeweight in the deal with Mourinho having already warned as to the Financial Fair Play restrictions that stopped them buying more in January.

But it is believed that Atletico will ask for Torres as their preferred option – and Chelsea will be willing to give in to their request in order to land Costa.